Holidays are notorious for creating expectations…Mother’s Day is no exception.
Positive expectations cause us to feel happy and hopeful because of increased levels of dopamine in our brain. But unmet expectations cause dopamine levels to fall sharply…which feels a lot like pain.
So moms - this holiday take a couple of tips from psychologists about setting yourself up for happiness.
Make 2 decisions ahead of time:
Decide to be happy with whatever happens… but still allow yourself to be thrilled if your expectations are met! This sets your brain up for happiness- no matter what.
Decide to be the “present.” Practice being fully present for as many moments of your day as possible. Expectations come and go, but the moments we capture with the ones we love - are priceless.
Motherhood is truly a #wildandbrave endeavor. It’s a job, a calling, a joy, and a struggle. It’s too big to be celebrated in one day, too important to be captured on a card, and too complex to be expressed in a gift. It is it’s own reward…
